Euro Tour -

France, Gremany, Austria, Itay, Monaco, Switzerland

 

so before anyone gets their hopes up this is not an account of my euro tour, it was such a great, fantastic amazing epic exteme experiance that i have to put alot of effort into a full detailed report!!

some major points-

The awkward turtle

Brian

Brian-nated

Extreme

Pegagoat

Epic

Breast

D & M

Shultz

Adventure

Experiance

Rice!

Friends

Fun

Best ever

Amazing

Corny

Beautiful

these are just some words to descirbe it, but i doutb words ever will for my euro tour truly was the most amazing experiance of my life!There wasnt a thing missing from it… culture and all i loved it and dont know how to really say it

 

 I promise a full report (it will be here I am just rather busy and well i’m clare martin so pretty much hold on to ya hats people =)

Love Clare xxo

Ok so I know i havent written in ages and ages

But i have a good reason…. I am having the time of my life here!!! Busy busy busy

So i’ll start where i left off.. I spent a wonderful weekend with Ann-Louise and her family. They speak both French and English, their house is so beauitful and amazing we celebrated Agats birthday.

 

 

It rained that day 2.. then

 in the evening we went to friends of Ann louise. They are a lovely english couple who live here in france. Their house is a Manor it was amazing. There was a performance heald that evening by an english singing group who sang in french.. Itg really was an awesome experiance so many clutures in the one room people speaking english and french. I thought it was great.

Ann Lousie was wonderful to have me for the weekend.

Yay!!! Finally something in sport I am actually good at, BASKETBALL. Ok so in Australia I wasn’t god I was the all rounder who just loved to play, well when I play at school I am the best LIKE honestly, by the end of P.E I had people bitching about the Australian and how she’s played basketball for 10 years that’s why she’s better than us. Correction in Australia I wasn’t good hehe it really helped that I was a foot taller than almost all the players and that they never defended etc etc but more to the point I kicked butt, and scored 37 goals!!!

 

 

 

Ahhh….. I’m gonna be way late, this was going through my head as I was running towards the train station on Friday afternoon, Callie and I were off to Lucon for the weekend with all the other exchange students in our district (kinda like Dookie back home). Don’t worry I made it to the train. Callie and I travelled to Nantes to change over trains where we literally bumped into Matt (usa), Greg (nz), Emily (usa), Laura (mexcio) and Andrez( mexico). Matt and Greg came to our end of the train to talk and catch up, Callie got a little train sick… Finally when we arrived in Lucon, it was like being in Avenel, except way older. We were collected by a Old Rotarian, in our own Maxi Taxi (jealous much).

 

At the park said G’day to more of the exchangers (ok well only I said G’day), The park was pretty neat, a pool (indoor), huge lake, and really really nice roomy cabins.

 

 

 

For the Friday afternoon we could do anything so we explored around the park, we were all kinda hungry so we did a food dash into town and got lots and lots chocolate!!! Very important. We didn’t have dinner until 9 pm. I was starving along with everyone else. Wait for it….. the Rotarians gave us WINE it tasted like crap though, but still gee.

 

After we watched the dvd from the last Rotary weekend, its awesome I brought a copy of it to take back home. I’m on it a bit and all my friends are to. That finished at about 1 am and we all went back and crashed in the boys cabin, talking all night, Emily got a little sick, which wasn’t so good. Greg and I ended up sleeping in the hall on the floor, simply because it was raining and I was not getting wet walking home besides It was also 5 am and we got up at 8 hehe

 

 

 

The next day we made “Stonehenge” at brekkie with the Jam containers. It looked awesome, we then had to spend the day with free time and, practicing for our talent show that night. We went to the pool for 5 hours and then somehow we dozed off to sleep for another 4 hours! We also made rather crazy dashs from the pool to the lake, to have a quick swim, I must say it was kinda cold!!

 

  

In a bit of a panic (because none of us really had talents) we decided to dance the nut bush (which yes I Clare Martin, taught to everyone) that’s people from 5 different countries!! Impressed much hehe then organized to do the chicken dance, the Macarena and the Y M C A!

 

We had a fancy dinner with all these Rotarians, didn’t speak to any of them, after dinner half of them we home and the ones that did attend our concert were drape and boring and old dude even went to sleep but never the less we all had fun dancing our little dances and smiling a lot. But the Rotarians really let us down, we asked them to all join in to the easy steps (come on the Macarena isn’t hard) but no they sat there looking snobby!

 

Afterwards, we stayed up again late late LATE,, I slept on the couch (may I should have at least slept once in my own cabin but no) I had a good reason It stank of SMOKE!!! The girls we shared with were smokers. I slept 2 hours that night, Rotary diner didn’t finish until 1 am again.

 

Showing our spirit!! NEIGHBOURS!

 

The next morning we got to meet all the French out bounds, I spoke horrible French and made a huge idiot of my self, but did you know I am the only person in my district who has never ever learnt French. In france I teach my self French. Like truly so considering I knew no French and now how much I know I’m going awesome, but if you compare me to the others I’m so bad, but they’ve had 2 years at least of French at school.

 

 

 

 

I meet the kids who are going to Australia!  There is a boy Maxime going to Melbourne, I’m gonna see him when I go home. And the other two are going to Sydney and Cairns. So I educated them on Austrlia, I told them they need to know two things, VB and utes!!! And seriously I don’t think they will forget, Mamine is my mate Greg’s (his from NZ) host bro and he was asking him how you spell UTE! I am a great spokes person for Australia hehe

 

 

 

So we finished up the weekend, I said goodbye forever to some of my new found friends, Because they’re exchange is over and then in about a month there will be loads more, Americans and Mexicans and us fro; the south will be the oldies (and I wont be the best at French)  but it will be exciting to meet more new people.

 

But Callie is leaving!!! That’s sad, who am I gonna shop with that speaks English arrgh… On Monday night Greg and I are going to her presentation for Rotary, it should be good.

 

 

Man I am so busy at the moment, and so so tired,

Ok so had my big weekend

Then been out every night after school this week

I had Matt and Greg visit from Nantes on Wednesday that was good fun

And then Friday, I have to get up at 6.45am to walk to sport..

Then Saturday Ann – Louise is taking me to her house out of town for 2 night, I get to met her family and help with her daughters birthday and go to a concert, I’m really excited. I get back from there Monday morning

 

Then that avo Greg gets to Angers, his staying at my house so we can go to Paris together really really early Tuesday morning, 5.00am wake up! And as I said we have Callies Speech.

 

So before then I have to pack, finally post this blog.. and find my clothes because my host mum takes a week to wash them!! Don’t ya love running out of nickers! I had to buy more…

  

 

Also this week my French teacher got me yo write a paper for her.. and since I have never learn to write in French.. I translated from English to French and it will never be correct if you do that… so it wasn’t even close to right..

 

But its ok because ei understood everything!! Hehe

 

Also… I am gaining a lotta weight.. which isn’t so good..

I don’t remember the last time I had vegies for tea..

We do have tomatoes and a few other things..

But they are always covered in something.. like oil, salt or something so its not so good

 

Oh I had my first ever chinse lunch….

FRIED RICE!!!

 

And it was crap…. So so French the rice was like covered in what tasted like cheap wine.. eww.. I’ll wait until I get home for fried rice, and cooked meat, and vegies.

 

The first meal I have when I get home will be one huge steak cooked on the bbq and steamed vegies lots and lots of them!!!!

 

Anyway I’m off I’m way to busy..

 

Talk in a few weeks

Where I can tell you all about my trip to

 

PARIS
THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
ITALY
GERMANY
MONARCO
SWITZERLAND
and

AUSTRIA

 

So so bloody excited!!!

I get to see all my mates!!!

 

Love Clare xxo

 

Oh a little note

The red boots

Are getting a little worn.. but good thing my host dad owns the local leather shop

So hopefully he can fix them!! Hehe

 

 

Also in other news…

The fire alarm went off at my school twice this week and we had to evacuate..

It took forever.. if there had actually been a fire.. we all would have died..

They don’t even line u.. so your bound to kill a few if it ever really happens..

Also my host family were teaching me more French.. then they started arguing how to say the word they were teaching me in French… so in the end I was very confused and they all still have different opinions.. what do ya know…

 

The French cant always speak French!

 

Also My friend Charlene.. she only speaks French we had a really good chat today in FRENCH I was so proud.. I didn’t feel like I was making much sense but still

 

Oh and I was accompanied home by 3 boys this afternoon.. not to bad..

Hehe

 

 

Oh I’m excited for my weekend with Ann- Louise..

But I couldn’t go to the beach with Callie or Stephaine’s goodbye party..

So hard when everything is on at once

 

OMG also Greg is staying Mondays night.. and we were gonna go to Callies’s Rotary but apparently now.. I have to go to my rotary and it wont finish until 11 pm and I have to get up at 5 am Yay!!!

 

Anyways as you can see I have written this over about a week

So I’m off talk to you when I get back from my trip!!!

 

 

Love Clare xxo

((smile))

 

 

It all started at 8 am when I had to get outta bed or I was gonna be late, (I hadn’t had school the day before so all I did was go to school for 2 days! Clare is lucky, ya just gotta love the French strikes hehe.) I was all ready in time, didn’t have any idea of what I was meant to take, like I’ve never played in  a golf tournament before.

 

Mr Back picked me up and off we went, we collected some other nice gentlemen and drove to Sable, a little town about 60 km’s north- south of Angers.

 

The Golf de Sable-Solesmes is a beautiful course, reall really really REALLY green!!! I cant make that any clearer, its bloody green actually all of france pretty much is as well. According to the brochure I found, it says that the  is on 140 hectares, with rain forest, lakes, a river and is internationally renown. Impressed??

 

\Ok so I got there and of course no clubs etc, so they gave me them from the shop,  I was like you do know I don’t really play golf… fantastic?? Oh also I got this awesome glove with a magnet to mark my golf ball, I just thought it was a bloody awesome toy for my own entertainment. There were about 50 people and we had to go into pairs, I was paired with this lovely dutch lady (never got her name) good thing she knew what she was doing.

 

I got to see Valerie!!!! So excited, Valerie was my first host mum, she’s a golf nut! Loves it so much, I played all day with her. For the first hole, Frederique Dorbes a famous professional French golfer, played with us showing us what she could do, Me all I could show was that your not ment to swing out in golf haha.

 

 

 

After trudging around for a few holes, I paid attention but mostly I enjoyed the sites of the course and just the walking in fresh air, everyone was so seriously and since I am really bad at golf I wasn’t overly excited. But as a good exchange student I participated. After a while it started to rain, not just drizzle real rain, no there is one thing I hate more than anything, walking with wet feet for hours, its horrible. So after that I wasn’t so thrilled, not to mention I was drenched no one said bring a rain coat.

 

But it was all good, I toughed it out. Of course I was the youngest, I usually am here no one believes I am 16 though, ya gotta love it! Finally we finished! YAY!

I managed to lose only on ball, I spouse me refusing to hit it when there was water around did help.

 

Back at the club I gave back my clubs and I got told I could keep the glove, dunno what I’m gonna use it for lol I never get time to go and play golf. We had a raffle and I won 3 bottles of wine, and they gave it to me then someone said I was only 16 and instead I got biscuits! YAY… not damn lol

 

 

 

At the end of the day I met Maxine he’s French except I thought he was English so I asked him how long he’d been in france… opps, its not my fault how was I meant to know his English accent was so great because his dad is English and he lived in England for 8 years. Clare’s bad, he was really nice good to talk to someone in English. I think I’m going to go to London with him for a weekend!

 

Finally we were off on our way home by now it was about 6 pm I was with the Rotary club president, Charles, and Frederique. Did you know she speaks English, she’s really nice I asked lots of questions about her golf and all, and guess what!!! This Decembers to January she may paly in a tournament in Australia. So we exchanged cards, and I invited her to call what ever if she had questions about Aus and that she is welcome at my house anytime. =) Just so ya know mum and dad hehe. She’s going to send me pictures from her trips around Europe.

 

After we dropped Frederique at the train station we went to the chemist, charles said she was a family friends but I am sure she’s his gf haha I had to stp my self from laughing, I may not speak the best French but trust me I understand, tones and body language. And us always get the vibe when someone is trying to dodge something, omg I know it doesn’t sound funny but believe me it was.

 

So I had a pretty awesome day. Met a famous golf player, got an offer to go to London England, won a prize, got an awesome golf glove, got some exercise, the day off school, and wet feet (I am not so happy about that) But my day was good as.

 

 

 

 

I arrived home and got asked to baby sit, everyone was out so it was just me and the twins. They said I didn’t have to do it blah blah blah but it was easy they went to bed and that was it. Joel and Antia said to call if something happened, but I kept thinking how would I tell ya?? My French isn’t huge in the subject of emergencies. 

 

Then I got an email apparently I am going to a rotary weekend next weekend for 3 days. So that’s awesome I’ll get to see me mates. Pretty excited and tonight I am meeting Callie’s parents from the us.

So I’m off

love Clare

xxo

Ok so as i have said before the French… are not very funny! At all but my host family.. now THEY are funny. Its not really in the common courtesy to fling spoons off the dinner table, trust me it was the hardest I’ve laughed inn a hell of a long time, ah it was a pisser, so like home. I loved it

 

OMG I found my French OASIS… its this beautiful place, it’s a park right with miles of walking and bike tracks, over the river, it goes around the lake and at one stage there is a path between the lake and river so beautiful, I rode my bike there last weekend and loved it, afraid I didnt have my camera on me but I promise I will get some pics as soon as I go back! I found my own effile tower there its this huge jungle gym it looks over the park, its green trees and in the back ground is the city.  Breath taking, or maybe that’s just the 16 ft high climb up ropes lines to see it hehe

 

I had a 5 day weekend, it was pretty awesome I did what any laid back carefree, teenager would do… I sun baked as it is finely SUNNY! Lucky they have an ozone layer here because I was out there for a while but I didn’t even go red. Amazing how different it is to AUS, I also cooked, a awesome cake with no self raising flour (so so strange and I ate it for brekky with the family) and i made frusit salad. I also read this god as English book, spoke French 5 days straight and watch French movies, with subtitles of course =)

 

On Sunday evening we went in the car for a 45 minutes drive to Joel’s Parents, little farm, I must admit I got a little motion sickness, this is from the girl who loves fast as crazy insanely awesome carnival rides. Then I realised I hadn’t been in a car in months because I walk everywhere, and the roads in france are so twisty and curvy like gee wizz. So we got there it was a nice old house, little farm about 2 hectares, With sheep.. it was strange these sheep have tails! Unlike back home and they looked so gross covered in poo and the smell was revolting, GEE I cant wait until 2010 when the same things happen in Aus and the average farmer will have to pay more for the docking of their sheep, more drenching therefore more time consumption and money every year, more stress and worry, great to know we’ll have this and the DROUGHT!

 

But meh, what can ya do… Do know I have only seen 3 flies in france I think that’s pretty amazing don’t you, like you can eat outside and not even worry about them. Its good. Ok so back to the farm.. I met Joel’s, sisters, mum, dad, nephews, nieces, brother in law and they are all so so nice. Everyone  kept asking me questions and of course I replied in French. We had a lovely picnic in the yard and watched the sunset haha it was really good. Then finally made it home at about 11pm

 

So in all I had a really good weekend I spent it all in my shorts singlet and thongs hehe being so so AUSSIE!

 

OMG OMG ok so over here I am becoming quite the sport freak, Basketball, Bike ridng, walking everywhere, Golf and now SOCCER! I don’t exactly remember how I got myself into it but I did… I am on my class soccer team, there are 7 people, and I am the only girl, in fact I am 1 out of 7 girls in the comp, and 1 out of  55 or something boys. GREAT ey!

 

Now I don’t know the first thing bout soccer, it never ever interested me, I’d played once in my life at gv and I wasn’t great. I don’t even know any rules except for don’t touch the ball with your hands. DER FRED!

So I was kinda freaking out, like there were lots of people there and I had my Australia t shirt on.. GREAT to show how good your country is..

I didn’t exactly remember how to speak French when I get jitters it temporarily slips my mind.  So I  was really really looking forward to our first game me being unco and all… I was bound to fall over at some point.

 

Well off we went… and I was thinking what the hell am I doing here, I cant possibly play soccer… Which is nothing but the truth, but I did discover that eve though I am a horrible kick and all the rest that goes with it, I I get the ball the boys would move out of my way, it bad I had to kick it! Or even funnier they would be chasing it and lucky it goes in front of me I stop it and to avoid me they fall over haha priceless to see, oh and if they so much as knock you the say sorry so many times, so me being me took compleate advantage of this situation, i decided I wanted the ball so I just chased it and knocked them over! (Jessie it was good old hip and shouldering) hehe but seriously I know for sure I don’t have a future in soccer, I never ever ever want to play again, today especially it was raining on minute then sun shining so bright it hurt ya eyes, not that has anything to do with soccer but I thought I’d tell ya.

 

OH now the funniest part was when there was gonna be a fight…. Except it didn’t happen and the start of it was so ah… girly but seriously you could tell who was gonna win and it wasn’t the bloke from my class, all in all though soccer was a good experience, I saw a lot of good looking shirtless guys, and socialized with my class mates who love to joke with the aussie and her bad French, it great fun.

 

Ya see there are 5 things you have to know about French-

You have to know how to –

                                               Read it

                                               Write it

                                               Spell it

                                               Hear it

                                               Say it

 

Just because you can do one of these doesn’t mean you can do the other just because you can read French and translate it doesn’t mean you know how to say it, or how to notice someone saying it. I have studied hours and hours of French and I am alright at it I’d pass year 12 french at the moment but to communicate you must work harder, I know exchanges here who can speak and hear French but barely spell it or write it.

I have my good days with French and my bad one day I will be speaking it no problem the next its like my mind is blocked and its so so frusterating, one day I can understand everything said, the next poof nothing. Its driving me nuts all I want to do its speak good French.

 

So I guess I’m just gonna have to work at little harder, but seriously I need more sleep my street is so noisy like gee wiz and what not. I look like an old hag. But its be right soon.

 

Also have I told you since being here I have gained so weight, now this is what is strange, I walk to school everyday, go up on average 300 stairs a day, I play basketball 4 hours a week, as well and bike ride roughly 15 km, I walk 3 km every Friday to and from sport, I do sit ups etc, I eat on average not nearly as much as back home, and roughly the same type of eating (just a hell of a lot more bread hehe) and I am gaining weight. Back home, I spent 3 hours a day every school day sitting on the bus, 2 hours umpiring, 1 our basketball, 1 hour netball and maybe and hour training (if I actually mad it there) and 2 hours less on school sport and 2 hours walking with school. Now I don’t understand why I’m gaining weight its not to much let me assure you but gee, the maths just doesn’t add up lol but I figure ok well I’m only gonna be here once I’ll just run my dam legs of back home.

 

Oh wanna know what I ahd for dinner tonight.. well I’m gonna tell ya any way it was crepes, Cool or what, with nutella and all, I decided to bring our to countries together and have a vegemite crepe, my host family were extremely disgusted they hate vegemite with a passion haha I loved every minute of it so so awesome.

 

I only I one hour of school tomorrow as the teachers are on strike, and guess what class it is English! Easy for me or what, I did a test the other day and got and excellent top marks for the class, hopefully I’ll get my other English test results back tomorrow.

 

And golf Friday gee,, I bet there are gonna be some tales there hehe

 

Love you all lots

Clare

Xxo

((SMILE))

Well in the week I’ve been living with the Nourry’s I must say my French has improved heaps like wow! But I still do the normal thing and pretend I know what is being said but when really it could be anything in the entire world and I’m just nodding smiling ahh sounds good haha. I pretty much go with the flow.. it works well.

 

Actually its worked wonders since I came on exchange going with the flow, is practically the way to go, no use worrying about shit because in the end its not important, as long as your smiling and having fun who gives a hoot hehe

 

Ok so an update well i mentioned I went to the market right, well I went on a motorbike with my host dad Joel, it was awesome and I got to wear this awesome real leather jacket. Also they told Jean Claude because I’m not you know sure if it’s a o.k but he thought it was the best thing for me ever…. Is he nuts???

 

I cant go to Paris to see friends on the train by myself but I can go on the highway on the back of the motorbike.. and this is the French HIGHWAY!!! Bonkers or what!

 

I had basketball this week..  it was good.. losing some of that gained weight.. well I’m not so sure.. haven’t really checked, ey Mum good news I realised where all my money is going… its towards food.. now don’t worry  the French feed me but I can never ever stop eating they think its strange.. considering the guys here eat the same amount as the girls, that would be why they are all skinny fellas.. barely muscles..

Its so so sad but meh.

 

In france-

everyone is always so so nice to me..  though its still not the same as aussie nice.. it is different.. I just cant put my finger or how.. anyway now I pretty much  understand what everyone says, the only thing I cant do is pronounce the French words properly, its my biggest fall.. now I can read and spell French but saying it is a pain in the ass.. like woah.. big brain work out there..

 

but being me and all I’ll get it don’t ya worry, a thing with people being nice to ya is they are always nice but  still you don’t always feel like one of them… your always kinda on the outside.. Like believe me I have lots of friends and no one has been mean to me here.. like hello people where is the aggression etc.. and people talk to me.. but sometimes it feels like its an obligation.. don’t get me wrong I love it and all..

like I love everyone I’ve met.. but it never feels like its honest if ya get me..

 

some people are rude to you if you say your English.. then once you say your AUSSIE its like you’re the sun…

 

and well it kinda shits me because… I like doing my own thing.. you know I always kinda have.. I’m not a follower but it what I seem to do here..

 

exchange changes your view of everything..

                                   the world

your life                                                                                             yourself                                                                                              EVERYTHING!!!

          

You have to be able to adapt to every type of possible situation

You have to think outside the box

You have to be open minded

You must always think before you speak

You have to change

 

What your life was and what is now.. is nothing the same, its unique.

 

You create an adventure, you take advantage of this bloody awesome experience and put it into the best of its use.

 

Believe me… its not a piece of cake..

                                   There are highs and there are lows.

 

But always the highs are there for ever and you forget the lows..

 

Personally being on exchange.. its made me a stronger more independent women,

Yes even though I’m only 16.

 

Lessons have been learned and pages of my life have turned.. you find a direction and you stick to it.. you follow you gut instincts and you always always smile.

 

I have to admit.. I’m not home sick.. I don’t cry at night, I don’t get upset..

I do have those moments where I daydream of things back home such as..

 

Sitting chatting with my Mum

On the veranda with Dad

Driving the car with Tom (who may I add drives better than me)

Cooking with Grandma

Walking with Nan

And yes even arguing constantly with my Sister Emily and stealing each others clothes =)

Laughing with all my friends until, you cant breathe..

Going to the tower with Jessie

And sleeping over at Erin’s (always my second home)

And many others..

 

As I don’t have any of those things here.. or I do to some extent but it isn’t the same.

 

But common people in my opinion.. I don’t see reason to dwell and whimper of missing these things..   I do but.. theres no need to show it

 

Because these memories and people are stored inside my heart and soul forever and always..

 

I’m out on my own making memoirs to share when I return.. I’m learning the greater lessons on life.. I’m making new connections and expanding my horizons..

 

Not only do I do it for myself but I do it to make you proud.

I’m not being a wanker.. but not everyone can do what I’m doing..

You have to know what your getting yourself into and you must most importantly

Have the best love and support … and I have to say I do!

 

And it make s me smile every single day =)

 

………

……

….

Alright so…

i only had 2 and a half days of school this week.. I’m now on holidays for 5 days.. YAY! I plan to sunbake as you see.. well you cant but still it’s a good line.. the sun has decided to shine in france.. the rain has subsided and I am one very happy aussie..

I have been in my footy shorts, singlet and thongs for the last 3 days.. (ok so when I’m not at school) its bloody awesome haha.. I have been reading my French on the back porch.. dad did I tell ya.. we have this kinda patio thingo.. its very French but I spend a lot of time out there.. its good as

 

I am gonna go crazy.. ok so I haven’t been sleeping to well since I moved.. for the pure fact that my street is so so busy.. I’ve nicked named it ECHO ALLY.. the sounds just jump of the concrete house’s into my room.. The little pissy frenchy cars make so much noise… I swear all their brakes are rat shoot.. not to meantion the large amount of drungs from the pubs.. at 2.30 am.. to 5 am.. ya just gotta love it.. arrgh!!!

 

So I have to say I am getting ear plugs… because I am not in the highlands anymore..

Did you know you cant even see the stars here at night… theres to many lights…

Angers is an awesome town its got everything here… but I no for sure I am not the city life type… I could hack it for sure but jesus.. why would I want to do it??

 

I prefer to sit on the veranda.. watching the stars.. or even better the storms with lightening and thunders moving over the mountains.. its better.

 

Omg something funny lol ok.. Joel was having a beer this morning at 11.40 am

A champ or what haha I swear the Nourry’s could be almost Aussie..

They are relaxed, casual, easy going, welcoming, normal in my opinion and BLOODY FUNNY! And not a lot of French are lol so I’m loving it.. also they like to make fun of me and my brilliant French haha its so good..

 

Its kinda like home is some way.. like I don’t remember a single day where I didn’t pull the piss outta someone.. like you can try with your mates at school and that but man they don’t get it.. and they think you can get offended so easy… its hard to translate politely into French that I don’t give a stuff lol

 

Oh did I teel you I’m cooking for rotary??? Yep an aussie desert! Of Rum balls, chocolate ripple cake, Grandma’s Famous Anzac Biscuts! Love them =) vegemite on toast and fosters beer! DAD send more vegemite.. I don’t think the ones you sent me will be enough haha ok so for the French yes.. but I wanna make them remember VEGEMITE! Considering theres about 60 people if I pull this off I will be a champ! I could make pav but I could fail at that pretty badly as I have never made it before.

 

EXCITING NEWS!!!! Only wait for it………about 24 days until I get to see all me AUSSIE mates and go on the bus trip… to

PARIS

ITALY
AUSTRIA
GERMANY
MONACO
SWITZERLAND

And the SOUTH of FRANCE

 

Bloody brilliant or what haha I am so so excited!

 

Well I better be off… I love ya lots and lots

Always and forever

 

Clare xxo

((SMILE))
love ya long time

omg

me clare martin

is playing in a rotary golf tournoment next friday

they better hope i dont accidently throw a club at someone, when i’m trying to hit the ball haha

so good

gotta go sun bake

cheerio!

Woah!!!!! Ok so I moved… didn’t actually say goodbye to my pervious host family because they weren’t home, only my host dad. Anyways I arrived at my new house

26 rue Chateaugontier (ok so the spelling may be wrong) Angers. Practically and truly the distance of my backyard in Australia from my 2^nd house to my 3^rd. I’m still really close to school, well if ya think about it I moved to the other side of the school hehe

 

So I must say a little nervous to be moving only because I now live with a family that only speak FRENCH, now clare actually has to use her head when she speaks the most simple phrase but I’m loving it, In two days I have learnt more French than in 3 months or however long I have been here, I seriously dunno.

 

So now I am speaking French a lot of it, but I guess you expect that in  FRANCE but a lot of people (ok everyone) knows English the quality varies but still how many people in Aus know French?

 

Ok so my new host family- The Nourry’s

My host mum Anita

My host dad Joel

My host sister Maria (doesn’t live at home)

My host niece Tia (gurguz)

My host sister Celine (older)

My host sister Laura (in mexico on exchange like me)

My younger host brother Germain

And my younger host twins Lucienne and Julien (not actually related but cared for by the Nourry’s)

 

My new family is very laid back, I’m allowed to eat with my fingers YAY!!!! And say tu instead of vous.  For those of you who don’t know haha (getting on the high horse here mum) Tu is informal for you and vous is formal for you, gotta be careful who you say it to.

 

And we have discussed some very easy laid back subjects such as farting, while at the kitchen table haha sound familiar to anyone?? And we are discussing this all in FRENCH haha so funny also we have discussed swear words, the quality of wine, me being allowed to cook when ever and all these casual things I love it.

 

This family I think I’ll describe them as dysfunctional (although that’s not the case) but they do remind me of home a fair bit, which is good I feel welcomed and we have had our moments of miscommunication and Clare nodding saying oui oui  ( when really I’m thinking…. Ahhhhh….. yep ya lost me on the first word) hehe bad I know but I will improve! Believe me.

 

My house is really cool today I measured and I live exactly 7 metres from the 1^st PUB! Jealous much haha I know ya are DAD!  I have my own room with guess what…. Wait for it… you know as a kid all I wanted was a horse how kiddy do you think I feel with horses on my bed room wall =) I love it hehe and its yellow to so cool, My house has lots of rooms, and high ceilings with wood showing (ok so I’m describing it dodgy but come on its awesome). And its just cool we don’t have keys but a number code for the door, good thing I haven’t forgotten it just yet. Hehe but theres a whole 3 months for that!!

Alright I must mention this…. She’s gonna kill me but meh what are best friends for..

Everyone please congratulate JESSIE DUFF on here solo in the school production, I wish I was going… remember  Jess I’m ya biggest fan hehe

 

Some funny things that have happened to me.. Anita found a dove and now its our pet, she coucous to it haha actually everyone does it makes me laugh, I haven’t laughed like that in ages because not all the French are very funny… well at all. Christohpe, I am not including you, your and awesome mate .

 

Major blow to my happiness…. Who would have ever thought I’d have to go to school on a SATURDAY well I do.. tomoro YAY not because I have to walk to sport at 7.30am fun! Na its ok now that is isn’t -15 degrees hehe. I finish at 1 am so that’s ok by me.

 

Also…I’ve been thinking.. I could write a a pretty good book as long as some one else checked the spelling because I can never be bothered or I am to excited to haha aka clare is a lazy aussie!

 

I must say being in France make you think quite a lot, about everything, it puts your life into a completely different perspective, you understand so many more things, and that something’s you thought were worth worrying about were nothing, or you appreciate exactly what you have… and also how lucky I am as a person..

 

Not a day goes by where I don’t learn a least 3 new things,

Push myself out of my normal comfort zone (in a good way)

That I don’t accomplish a new goal

That I don’t value my opportunity that I have right in front of me

Seriously how many 15 year olds (now 16) leave home, their family, language, school, friends, comfort zones, pets, food, clothes, country and absolutely everything you have ever known to live with strangers, a new language, everything is unknown and needed to be learnt.

 

 And WOW is it amazing!! Words cant describe it.. I could go on forever with the list of things I have leant and experienced but I wont because I know one thing… I will never forget them and I will strive in my future! (so nerdy but meh deal with it)

 

 

Just thought I’d let ya know that…

 

Oh another thing.. I am sorry if my spelling is bad haha I know it usually is but that’s because I am to excited to re-read or I’m using the French key bored and cant spell hehe

 

Alright so I’ve been thinking school on a Saturday isn’t to bad because everyone else has to be there, oh I told you about the bird right.. well I also have a dog called Sofia and a cat but I dunno its name..

 

This afternoon I am making rum balls.. they are so so so GOOD!!!

Oh be excited.. I know I am.. I had cravettes.. PRAWNS for lunch! Well ok the entrée then we had… wait for it….

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You’ll be amazed..

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Maybe grossed out

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But I ate…. RABBIT!

 

Yes so true… and I know it sounds maybe odd and all but seriously it was good

Bit like chicken hehe Also figuring out where the bones are was hard.

 

So it made me think what else I have eaten in France that’s odd..

Theres-

Escargot- Snails

Boudin- pigs blood cooked (ewww….!!!!) believe me I didn’t know, nice trick there

Rabbit- Like chicken

Eel- ah average

Pate- looks like Magpies cat food.. but can be alright

Endives- EWWW! Lettuce stuff that’s underground

For Gras- Duck liver… (tastes like hotdog)

Sheep Cheese- I like it

Goats milk- EWW bad experience there

Goat cheese- good but smells like real goat

 

And so far I think that’s all

Oh Joel believes that all of a pig can be used, great!

 

Also since coming to France I now eat

Mushrooms, tomatoes, beetroot, leak, capsicum, radishes and other stuff but I forget the name.. oh and whole grain bread, This is all coming from a kid who didn’t eat sausages and preferred white bread instead.

 

Also OMG the sun is shinny I love it!!!! So nice so I’ve been lounging in it all day.. well since I finished school. I’m going shopping with Callie this arvo to get her something cute for when here rents come from the states. It will be good..

 

Mum I will send the package this Monday ok! Because I will fill it today.

 

 

Ok so Callie and I went shopping we got her this beautiful dress for when her ents come next week.

 

I made awesome rumballs everyone loves them hehe

 

You know I really really don’t like shopping its just something to do, also its so funny when callie and I shop together because we speak englsh and everyone looks like OMG haha its awesome

 

=)

love ya long time that’s all for now

xxo

 

(SMILE)

Alright big news…. are ya ready for it?

I (Clare Victoria Martin) ate escargot, aka SNAILS!!! believe it or not but i did, and honestly they werent to bad i’m a seafood person and serious they actually are good even a little better than oysters, also covered in garlic sauce YUMMY.

 

 

and considering i was that kid who never ate tomato, spaggetti sauce, mushrooms, sauages, hamburgers and all that, like thats pretty good

also for the record i now love tomato and mushrooms, dad when i get home i’m taking over the barbie with cooked mushrooms and cheese.

anyway……… GUESS WHAT?????

i`m moving this very afternoon… i’ve had to pack and all which was so much fun, haha nar just kidding. i have alot of stuff…. like wow came here with hardly anything and now well i think i’m all set. Also well me being me i’m not that neat and never see the rreason to pre plan these things hehe but moving should be good another

CHANGE,

 they seem to be happening all the time, well considering i’m in a compleately different country, my life isnt the same at all, practically in every possible way it is different, it also helps that france and australia are almost in no way alike.

And i love it, not that i dont miss things from Australia like i do….

but gee i’m gonna be there for the rrest of me life so might as well live my here to the full =)

i tell ya what though, you really miss HUGS!!! they are the best but they’re not really french if ya get me… though not to worry everyone because in about i dunno 36 days i am going to see all me aussie and southern hemeisphere mates for something like 12 days straight, OMG gonna be so so awesome most likely the greatest trip of me LIFE!

so excited, but more on that later..

oh its raining again, i compleately understand that rain is needed and all but come on not all the time and its cold, and peopleare unhappy unlike home, when it rains everyone goes nuts and celebrates because we never ever ever ever have it, so ui kindq told the rain to go to aus, CRAZY i know but i think australia may need it just that much more,

OH scary factor ok, on may the 5th i am making a speech to my rotary club on AUSTRALIA!!!! and what i’ve written is awesome, in english but then take it and turn it into french and now, READ, PRONUNCE and more importantly be UNDERSTOOD! oh great i’m in a pickle, haha i’m sure i’ll be right worst that can happen is i’ll say ythe wrong thing to about 60 or so frenchies, ok so that could be bad but i’m not going to stress,

besides i have to get throught tonight and tomoro and everyday after thatonly speaking french… there may be some funniness of communication of translations or even pronouciation (on my behalf of course hehe) i’ll tell ya all about it when it happens

cheers for now

love ya lots and lots

Clare xxo

((smile))

p.s hope there isnt to many spelling mistakes i’m on a french keybored different letter placings etc etc

G;day Everyone

A special announcement

I’d like you all to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the coolest person I know, I love her to bits!

MY GRANDMA, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Also to my little sister EMILY

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 14 year old now =)

now matter how old you get i’ll be older haha

ok so  I’ve been on holidays (being  aussie and being very very very very VERY LAZY!) and i go back to school on monday the 28th… ARRGH no 7 am mornings again.. great =) haha kidding oh well..

Some good news FRANCE is getting warm!!! I’m amazed, its hasnt rained in mayb 3 days pretty good ey.. lol unlike aus where it never rains.

Also I am moving in 4 days to my new family the NOURRY FAMILY. I cant wait it wil be sad to say godbye to the Duttileul Francoeur’s but oh well life goes on. The Nourry’s live also really close to school which is great and haha you’ll love this dad.. practically 65m from the pubs! not bad ey! So that means I have to pack.. great fun.. NOT! i now have lots of stuff that doesnt fit in my suitcase. So gotta fix that somehow. Oh well

Ok so it was ANZAC DAY yesterday i didnt do a whole lot I cooked, some short bread because i couldnt get the ingrediants for ANZAC BISCUTS besides grandma makes the best =) ya gotta love them

The other day I was lucky enough to met and have lunch with Ann-louise, She’s an Aussie who has been living in FRANCE for roughly 15 years and she speaks beautfil french. It was so wonderful to talk to a fellow Aussie about the differences of FRANCE and AUSTRALIA. we had a wonderful time and I cant wait to see her again and she has alaso offered to help me if need be so thats good hey.

Also my host sister came home from england we stayed up so late talking about it. EUROPE  is TINY!!!! Like WOW WOW WOW, Australia is huge!

Mmm.. well thats all for now..

oh wait I got my hair cut today and jessie duff guess what??

its still long and i’m not bald lol seriously people do you know what its like to have someone who doesnt speak your language cutting your hair?? I do but it all worked out awesome =)

Cheers Clare xxo

love ya long time

((SMILE))

Ok so everyone guess what???

 

 

I turned 16 last wednesday… pretty cool hey.. well i reckon it is.

Anyway I got lots of presents and they’re awesome so thank you everyone.. not writing the names because theres way to many. But a huge thanks =) ya really didnt need to.

I had a pretty good day… slept in, spoke to the family opened presents and had a cake. I also had a surprise cake last sunday with my host family it was really good.

And i got some pretty bloody awesome photos from Burtundy =) I love them. haha

  

Well i’m on holidays at the moment and life is relaxing yet i dont do much.. i’m rather lazy.. also my host sister is in England and my host brother is studying for exams and my host parents work alot.. and everyone i9′m friends with has gone away… so i have to make my own entertainment… its not to bad though

some awesome news I have joined a basketball club.. bad thing is they are all way way wya better palyers than me.. but meh… All i want to do is get out for a run and mayb lose some of this weight i’ve gained hehe so bad. I have traning this monday from 10am until 4pm I’m gonna die OMG!!! i’ll tell ya how it all goes though.

Now what i did yesterday that was pretty cool….. I went to Nantes.. to see Mia =) Me sis (so it is said) I caught the train with my host mum, she left me at the station while she went to another town.. when i met Mia her host parents kinda went off… dunno why seriously no french will try and mug you.

So as i was saying off Mia and I went in the city of Nantes…

In the rain

with no umbrella

no idea of the actual city

just to tough aussies extremly wet and LOST!

but not to worry we sorted it all out =)

found the shops.. spent the day explaoring different deparments stores and hiding from the cold and wet in cafes… such a great life =) Even though it was raining, cold and extremly wet Mia and I managed to have a great time..

we saved a fish

we saw a cockatoo for sale- for 2190 euro so the must mean I have at least 40 grands of bird in my backyard at home haha (also is it actually legal to sell cockatoo’s??)

 

  

we saw chipmunks… for sale to bad when we come home they’d have to be quarintined (cant spell it)

Also we found so very sexy scarfs- we borught a mathcing pair and also had a ver aussie lunch of chips and a hamburger.. so good.

Finally we said our goodbyes it was great to see Mia again.. usually i’m the only aussie around.

And i arrived home with really really really really WET WET WET feet… not so good believe me..

anyways i think thats all for now…

Also i move soon at the end of this month i think

so that mean si have to pack again… arrgh

but its allgood because the next family are really nice and all that so its good.

oh and another thing… i had to spend an hour yesterday helping my host bro with his english pronunciation for his english university exams…

the french really cant say the H — because its usually unused in the french language thereofre they are not used to saying it… after a while he found it extremely difficult to think in another language..

i said to him well i have to do this everyday all the time… now ok so my french isnt brilliant but i do try and i have improved but since being on holidays i dont have alot of people to talk to in french and to speak, spell and read french is compleately different in the language itself.. so i am nlot fluent yet and i can definately not say full sentances.. also converting from english into french rarely works so everyday i have to change the compleate way i think… haha sounds like fun hey..

i thought i’d just tell you all.. because its extremly interesting especially the ay the mind changes for the surroundings and needs… its pretty cool

but I am loving the challenge of learning such a beautiful language..

its bloody awesome

thats all for now

love clare xxo

((SMILE))

Motto ‘08- get over it and toughen up

just for a few of you out there